The chairman of the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) Anil Sahasrabudhe has said that with the nature of technical education changing constantly, the curriculum of the colleges should evolve accordingly. He was delivering his address during the 9th convocation ceremony at Graphic Era University here on Saturday.
He asked the students passing out from the university to remain prepared to face the challenges which they have not faced yet.
Proposing a seven-point formula for overall development of a university, Sahasrabudhe said that focus should be on industry linkages, research and innovation, establishing national and International networks, enhanced involvement of alumni, making institute’s facilities available to the students round the clock, establishing engagement clubs for students and sensitising them towards the needs of the society.
He suggested that the laboratories and libraries of the universities should remain open for 24 hours unlike the Government offices which work from 9 am to 5 pm so as to enable the students to reach respective laboratories as and when they get an eureka moment.
The chairman of the apex body of technical education further said that to overcome the problem, the students of non-convent background face in understanding the language and system of classes on admission, the AICTE has started a three week ‘Student Induction Programme.’
In this programme, the new students are made to do a variety of non-academic activity to enhance their confidence.
President of the university, Kamal Ghanshala said that research work should not be confined to books and publications but should be applied practically. He further said that success is incomplete without contributing to the welfare of the society.
The chancellor of the university, R C Joshi said that with creativity, hard work, self-confidence and talent combined, one can achieve his goal.
The vice-chancellor of the university, Rakesh Kumar Sharma threw light on the university’s progress while citing Graphic Era’s achievements like securing NAAC “A” accreditation with maximum score and finding a place in the central Government list of top 150 universities of the country.
International wrestling coach and recipient of prestigious Dronacharya Award , Mahavir Singh Phogat said that sports should be given proper attention for the development of the country.
Noted environmentalist, recipient of Ramon Magsaysay Award and Padamashree, M C Mehta said that in view of the natural resources being always be needed by the humans it is, therefore, the responsibility of the human race to preserve them.
During the programme, M C Mehta and Mahavir Singh Phoghat were conferred honorary doctorates by the university.
A total of 27 students from the field of Engineering, management and biotechnology were awarded PhD during the ceremony. Apart from them, 2103 students were awarded graduation and post-graduation degrees.
‘Sapling over Memento’
Setting an example of sorts, the AICTE chairman Anil D Shasrabude refused to accept memento from the Graphic Era University and insisted that he would be happy if instead of being given the memento he was allowed to plant a sapling in the university campus. “ Every other day I receive memento. As I don’t have space in my home to keep them my wife always gets worried whenever I bring one home. I suggest the universities parting with the tradition of giving mementos at least to the senior people like me.
It will preserve paper, wood and help in reducing plastic,’’ he said. The AICTE chairman said that after the sapling was planted as suggested by him, the university should hand over a simple unframed certificate as memento. He added that a QR code linked with the website of the university should also be pasted on the certificate so that the person who has planted the sapling is able to see it growing into a tree.